All India Network Programme on Bluetongue, Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122 (Uttar Pradesh).
*E-mail: abpandey58@rediffmail.com
A field trial of binary ethylenimine (BEI) inactivated saponified bluetongue virus-1 (BTV-1) vaccine was carried out in Bharat-Merino sheep at Central sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar. Vaccine elicited good group-specific and type specific antibody response, which persisted up to 7 months post vaccination. Haematological values remained within the safe range after vaccination. Animals were protected from virulent virus challenge by absence of clinical reaction and post challenge viraemia. However, a moderate to high inflammatory response at the site of inoculation warranted some modification in the vaccine/vaccination.
Bluetongue, inactivated vaccine, BEI, saponin